Performer Gordy “Crazyfingers” Lindquist has studied music since an early age. Now, years later, his musical career has led him to the Dakota Musicians Association Hall of Fame, where he will be inducted on May 10.

A biography provided in a news released noted Gordy “Crazyfingers” Lindquist was born on Nov. 20, 1937, as the 10th child of Albert and Anna Lindquist. He grew up on a farm southwest of Max in McLean County.

After graduating Max High School in 1955, Lindquist attended and graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music. He started his teaching career in music in his hometown, teaching at Max High School from 1959 to 1963. During this time, Lindquist also obtained his Master of Arts degree in music from Colorado State College at Greeley.

He continued his career as a music teacher in Westhope from 1963 to 1968 before he accepted a position in Santa Cruz, California. He then taught at Aptos High School from 1968 to 1972.

In the fall of 1972, Lindquist accepted a teaching position at Dakota College in Bottineau and was a music professor there for 34 years. He retired in 2006 after spending 47 years teaching music education. He now lives in Bottineau when he isn’t performing.

Lindquist’s music career began when he was five years old when he began playing piano and became fascinated with the keyboard. He studied with Edna Bohney in Max and was always grateful to her for her excellent early year training in piano. Lindquist’s mom, dad and nine older siblings encouraged him very much from a young age. The piano became Lindquist’s best friend and would open up opportunities of a lifetime.

The 4-H program helped him gain self-confidence through his participation in 4-H talent shows. His first solo ever performed in public was “The Funny Little Bunny” in 1948 at the Max School P.T.A. meeting.

Lindquist joined the Joe Alme Band in 1984. The band backed up performers such as George Burns, Bob Hope, Red Skeleton, Myron Floren and many Lawrence Welk stars.

Lindquist was asked to perform at the Norsk Hostfest in Minot. As the largest Scandinavian festival in North America, 70,000 people attend each year, and because of the Norsk Hostfest, Gordy has obtained many bookings throughout the United States, Europe and Canada.

Lindquist has now performed at the Norsk Hostfest for 35 consecutive years and holds the record for an entertainer performing at the same venue.

In 1958, Lindquist, the Joe Alme Band and Myron Floren, accordionist from the Lawrence Welk Show, presented 15 concerts in Norway. Lindquist entertained with Myron Floren for 24 successive years, and the Norway tour was one of the highlights of his entertainment career.

In 2008, Lindquist joined Country Blend, a five piece Canadian band that performs classic country and gospel music. The band has performed in every Canadian province, including Newfoundland-Labrador. Every October the band tours the Maritime provinces in Canada. This tour includes stops in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Quebec.

Country Blend made history in July of 2018 when the band toured from the Yukon and Northwest territories all the way to the Arctic Ocean.

Country Blend has recorded 12 CDs.

Lindquist has been associated with the Musicians Union for 45 years, was a member of the Music Educators National Conference from 1972 to 1980 and was a North Dakota Higher Education member for 13 years.

He served as a member and president of the Bottineau County Concert Association from 1972 to 2012 and was the founder and director of the Bottineau Area Men’s Choir that performed for the North Dakota Centennial. The choir performed from 1983 to 2006 in the United States and Canada.

Lindquist’s stage name of “Crazyfingers” came about after Gordy was booked at the Ramada Inn in 1963. He saw the band Crazy Fingers perform. Mike Hadreas, the manager of the Ramada at the time, thought it would be a good name. Now, years later, it has remained his stage name.

Lindquist believes music is the great healer and truly is the international language.

“Music enlightens us when we are happy and helps us when we are sad. Music gives soul to the universe, life to everything, soothes the mind and creates happiness,” he said in a release.

He will be inducted into the Dakota Musicians Association Hall of Fame on May 10 at the Elks Club in Aberdeen, South Dakota. There will be a dinner at 5 p.m., with the induction to follow at 7 p.m.